On February 6, 2013, the Bureau of Land Management announced the deferral of all parcels in the North Fork Valley associated with the February 2013 Oil and Gas Lease Sale (UFO NEPA #12-09) in order for the BLM to conduct additional analysis. Approximately 30,000 acres within 22 parcels located near Paonia, Hotchkiss, Somerset, and Crawford, Colorado were considered, of which about 900 acres are private surface, while the remainder are federal surface lands. Please direct questions regarding this proposal to BLM Public Affairs Specialist Shannon Borders at 970-240-5399. To learn more about oil and gas leasing on federal lands, visit http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/BLM_Programs/oilandgas.html